Tuning means for radio receivers



Oct. 17, 1950 w. JfOBRIEN 2,526,266

TUNING MEANS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Original Filed April 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 17, 1950 w. J. OBRIEN 2,526,266

TUNING MEANS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Original Filed April 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @y lA EJ877224, Z wzfc aid/a 1 M #M Oct. 17, 1950 v w. J. O'BRIEN 2,526,266

TUNING MEANS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS,

4 She ets-Sheet 3 Original Filed April 10, 1941 RE ENCY 5, Java g I i V l (f %).LC.//Z) May M; )k/ 5 Oct. 17, 1950 w. J. O'BRIEN 2,526,266

TUNING MEANS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Original Filed April 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 17, 1950 TUNING MEANS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS William J. OBri'en, London, England, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Signal'Tuned Radio Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application April l ll, 1941, Serial No. 387,907, now Patent No. 2,426,580, dated August 26, 1947.

Divided and this application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,183

20 Claims. (01. 250-16 This invention relates to the tuning of radio apparatus and particularly toradio receivers embodying tuning devices of the stop-on-carrier, stop-on-signal or signal-tuned, such as those described and claimed in the Edward F. Andrews Patents No. 2,262,218, granted November 11, 1941, and No. 2,326,737, granted August '17, 1943. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 387,907, filed April 10, 1941, entitled Radio Receivers, which issued as Patent No. 2,426,580, on August 26, 1947.

This invention relates to means for improving the rapidity of action, the accuracy of tuning, and discrimination in favor of the desired signal in radio receivers having stop-on-carrier tuning and for otherwise improving such devices.

The invention further relates to the drive mechanism for regulating the volume and effecting stop-on-carrier tuning in automobile sets or home sets either from a remote point or other- Wise.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a new and improved radio receiver of the stop-on-carrier type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical and simple arrangement for driving the gain control by the tuning means driving motor and controllable by switching means from any convenient point.

A further object of the present invention is' to provide improvements in the sensitivity control of stop-on-carrier tuning devices.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stop-on-carrier control wherein two control voltages, one of which may be called an actuating voltage and the other a restraining voltage, are applied to different elements of an electron tube means. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stop-on-carrier control wherein one of the aforesaid two control voltages, notably the actuating voltage, is obtained from the automatic gain control voltage of the radio receiver.

Another object of the present invention'is, the provision of a new and improved stop-on-carrier control wherein a fast acting automatic gain control voltage is utilized for the purpose of providing the actuating voltage, thereby to provide an actuating voltage with a minimum'or delay as a signal is tuned in.

A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved circuit arrangements including rectifying means for'supplyin a selec- 2- tiveresultant control voltage for stop-on-carrier purposes.

A further and more specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved radio circuit arrangement for controlling a device in the plate circuit of an electron tube having a grid in response to a signalv voltage of e. predetermined frequency, which arrangement comprises means for obtaining from the radio a control voltage that is a maximum at said frequency, means for obtaining from the radio an opposin control voltage that is a maximum at a frequency slightly displaced from said frequency and a minimum at said frequency, and means" including rectifying means for impressing a voltage that is a resultant of said two control voltages upon the grid of said tube to operate said device when the opposing voltage is lower than the other control voltage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which reference is had'to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. l-A is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a graphic representation of certain control voltages obtaining in the embodiment of Fig. 1, and in other embodiments;

Fig. 3 is a graphic representation of the resultant of two'of the control voltages illustrated in'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 4-A isa fragmentary enlarged View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig; 5 is a partially diagrammatic and partially perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

I Fig.6 is a partially diagrammatic view of a further enibodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 depicts a standard automobile superheterodyne receiver to which elements of my invention have been added. The receiver comprises an aerial It], a radio frequency-tube H, a first detector and oscillator l2, asintermediate frequency tube l3, a tube l4 cojm 'a rising' a diode section l5 and an audio am plifiersection I6 and two power amplifiertubes:

ll connected in push-pull relation. The output of the' power tubes l'i 'isconnected through a transformer [8 to the voice coil lS'of a speaker 20 Energy is supplied by a battery 2i adapted to be connected by a switch 22, illustrated in circuit dosing position, to the cathode heater circuit 23, the speaker field coil 24, and to an interrupter 25. The interrupter controls the flow of current through the primary of a transformer 26, the secondary of which is connected to a rectifier tube 21 which supplies 13 current to a B supply line 28.

The receiver is tuned by means of a gang of condensers 29 operable by a shaft 30. The gang of condensers is adapted to be driven by a reversible motor 3| through pinions 32, 33, 34, 35, clutch elements 36 and 31', and pinions 38, 39, 4D, and 4|, the latter being rigidly mounted on the shaft 36. The clutch element 31 and the pinion 38 are mounted on an axially movable and rotatable shaft 42 which is normally biased to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by a spring 43. The shaft 42 is movable to the right, as viewed in that figure, by an armature 44 (with respect to which it is rotatably mounted) upon energize.- tion of a fast acting relay 45 constructed and arranged in circuit relative to a gas type control tube in a manner specifically set forth and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 387,908, filed April 10, 1941 now Patent No. 2,442,430 granted June 1, 1948. The clutch elements 36 and 31 are in engagement when the relay 45 is deenergized, and are disengaged when the relay is energizedthe elements being shown in disengagement better to illustrate the construction. The armature 44 controls the operation of switches 46, 41, and 48. Switches 46 and 48 are closed and switch 41 is open when the relay 45 is deenergized. When the relay 45 is energized, switch 47 is closed and switches 46 and 48 are open, as shown in Fig. 1.

The pinion 34 meshes with a gear 49, which is rigidly secured to the pinion 50, the gear 49 and pinion 50 being mounted on the rotatable armature 59' of a solenoid 5|. The pinion 50 and armature 59' are rotatable about a shaft 5| supported by a suitable bracket and the inner end of shaft 42, which is made hollow so as to receive the shaft 5| and so as to be movable relative thereto by solenoid 45. When the solenoid 5| is energized, the pinion 5U meshes with a gear 52 which is connected through gears 53 and 54 to a shaft 55. When the solenoid 5| is deenergized, a spring 56 forces the gear and pinion 49 and 50 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, so that the pinion 59 is moved out of mesh with the gear 52. It will be understood that a clutch similar to the clutch 36 and 31 may be employed to connect the pinion 50 to the gear 52 instead of the meshing and unmeshing of the gears, if desired. The shaft actuates the movable arm 51 of a volume control potentiometer 58 and also actuates the power switch 22 and a motor circuit controlling switch 59.

The shaft 30 carries an abutment member 60 which is adapted to throw a two-way limit switch 6| from one position to the other at the limits of movement of the condensers 29. As will hereinafter be readily understood, the throwing of the switch 6|, which is connected to switch 59, reverses the direction of rotation of the motor 3| so that the condensers move back and forward from one extreme position to the other, and vice versa, until the motor is stopped when a, carrier is received.

The receiver is adapted to be controlled from a remote position by means of a remote control unit which comprises the elements in the extreme left hand top corner of Fig. 1. The remote control unit comprises a normally closed switch 62, a sensitivity controlling rheostat 63, and a single pole, double throw power and volume control switch 64 which is resiliently biased to a normaily open intermediate position, in which it is shown. One side of the rheostat 63 is connected to a conductor 65, and the other to one side of the switch 62. The other side of the switch 62 and also the movable blade of switch 64 are connected to a conductor 66. One contact of the switch 64 is connected to a conductor 61, and the other contact is connected to a conductor 68. The conductors 65, 66, 61 and 68 may be in the form of a cable of any desired length so that the radio receiver may be controlled from any distance. Thus, the remote control elements described may be located on the dashboard or on the steering column of the steering wheel of an automobile, and the remainder of the receiver may be located in the rear end of the automobile, for example in the rear baggage compartment, away from the source of electrical disturbance created by the generator and ignition system of the engine.

The conductor 65 is connected through a resistance 69 to the cathode of a ga type control tube 10. The conductor 66 is connected to one side of the solenoid 5|, the other side of the solenoid being grounded. The conductor 61 is connected to one of the contacts of the limit switch 6| and to one winding ll of the motor 3|. The conductor 68 is connected to the other contact of the limit switch 6| and also to the other winding 12 of the reversible motor 3|. The other sides of both windings are connected to the armature 13 of the motor through one of its brushes, the other side of the armature being connected through the other brush to the battery 2|.

The movable blade common to switches 46 and 41 and the movable blade of switch 48 are grounded. The fixed blade of switch 4! is connected through condenser 14 to the automatic volume control lead 15. Condenser 14 is placed in circuit during reception to increase the time delay applied to the automatic gain control voltage to a value required for proper quality during audible reception of a signal and it is cut out of the circuit to make the automatic gain control voltage fast acting during the tuning operation. W'hen condenser 14 is cut out of circuit, condenser 14A remains connected to the automatic volume control voltage lead 15 for the purpose of minimizing feed back from the plate of tube I2 to the grids of tubes II and 12 through the lead, which is common to both tubes. However, the automatic gain control is fast acting even with the slight delay of condenser 14A. The fixed blade of switch 48 is connected to the control grids of power tubes IT and it will be readily understood that when these control grids are grounded by closure of switch 48, the receiver is muted.

The plate of the tube I3 is connected to one terminal of the primary 16 of a closely coupled transformer 17, the other terminal of which is connected to the B supply lead 28. The secondary 16 of this transformer is connected to the plates of the detector diode |5,and also to the volume control resistor 58 and the AVG control lead 15.

As also explained and claimed in my copending application, the primary 16 forms part of a tank circuit which includes condenser 18, condenser 19, resistance 80, and an adjustable condenser 8|, whereby this tank circuit may be tuned to intermediate frequency. The condenser 19 also 5 forms part of a tank circuit which includes the condenser 19, an inductance coil 8|, and an adjustable condenser 82, whereby this circuit is tuned to intermediate frequency. The common side of the three condensers 18, 19 and 82 is grounded. The common side of the primary winding 18 and condenser 8| is connected through a condenser 83 to the common side of the inductance 8| and condenser 82 and to a condenser 84. The condenser 84 is connected to the control grid 86 of the pentode section of tube 81, which also includes diode section 88. The control grid is also connected through a resistance 89 to an intermediate point of a resistance 90. One side of the resistance 90 is grounded, the other being connected to the cathode, of the pentode section of tube 81. This cathode is connected to one side of the condenser 9| by-passing resistance 90 and also to a. resistance 92, which is shunted by a very small condenser 93. The faster the speed of operation of the tuning condensers 29, the smaller should be the capacity of condenser 93. Condenser 93 with resistance 92 delays the. fall of the negative voltage shown by curve I04 of Fig, 2 without substantially delaying the rise of this voltage. Condenser 93 should be made smaller at higher tuning speeds because too much delay prevents the voltage of curve I04 from falling fast enough toward the bottom of the valley, thus canceling. a portion of the positive voltage of curve I02 and resulting in reduced sensitivity. However, condenser 93 should not be too small because the delay. on the voltage of curve I04 should be generally similar to the delay on the voltage of curve I02 to insure proper anti-static operation. The resistance 92 and the condenser 93 are connected through a resistance 94 to the grid of the gas tube 10 and also to one terminal of the secondary of a transformer 95, constructed and arranged so that the coupling between the primary andsecondary may be varied, the other terminal of which isconnected to the plate of the diode elements 88. The screen grid of the pentode section of tube 81 is connected by a conductor 96 to the plate circuit of the tube II at a point between the primary of the transformer 91 and the resistance 91, which connects the plate to the B supply line 28.

One side of a condenser 98 is connected to the cathode of the tube 10 and the other side to a resistance 99, which isin turn connected to the B supply line 28. The condenser 98 supplies a large flow of current through the relay 45 when the gas tube 10 is ionized while the resistance 99 limits the steady flow of currentthrough the relay 45.

The cathode of the gas tube I is connected through a bleeder resistance I90 to the B supply line 28. The plate of the pentode section of tube 81' is connected through the primary of the transformer 95 to the B supply line 28. The cathode and grid of the gas tube 10 are connected through a condenser|0| which provides, with the resistance 94, a time delay circuit which delays the effect of the ionizing voltage on the grid of the gas tube 10.

The transformer 11, including the primary 16 and secondary l6, condenser 19; resistor 80, condenser 8|, inductance 8|, and condensers 82 and .83, are preferably located within a shielding housing l06, which is grounded,v as shown in Fig. 5.

When thereceiver is outof operation, the

switches 22 and 59 are incircuit opening positions and relay 45 and solenoid are deenerglzied'f j; when it is desired to place tn receive'r'in operation, the movable blade of the volume control switch 64 is moved to the left. This completes a circuit from the battery 2| through armaturel3, winding 1|, conductor 61, the switch 64, conductor 69, solenoid 5|, and through ground back to the battery. The energization of the solenoid connects the gears 50 and 52 so that the shaft 55 is driven in the volume increasing direction, closing switches 22 and 59. At the same time, the relay 45 being deenergized, the condensers 29 are driven through the clutch 86-31. After the set is turned on, the switch 64 is released and the motor operates first in one direc-' tion and, then in the other, as determined by the limit switch 6|. In one direction of operation motor Winding 1| is energized, and in the other, winding 12 is energized, the windings being alternatel'y connected across the battery through onciiits including switch 59,.the position limit Switch SI. and the grounding switch 46; Upon release or switch B ithe solenoid 5| is deenerg'ized to terminate operation of the volume control.

The backward and forward movement of the condensers continues until the tubes have warmed up; and a station is. received. When a station is received, automatic volume control voltage is supplied from the diode detector |5 to line 15,, from whence it is applied to the grids of the tubes l2 and I3. As a result of the application of this automatic volume control voltage on the grid of the radio frequency tube II, the plate current of the tube is decreased, and the voltage drop across resistance 91 is decreased. Consequently, a more positive voltage is applied to the screen of the pentode section of tube 81 through conductor 95. The voltage thus applied to the screen has a value which follows approximately the contour of curve I02 in Fig. 2 as the signal being tuned in approaches resonance with the I; F. circuits of the receiver, this voltage rising rapidly as a station is being tuned in andreaching a maximum when a station is exactly tuned in As a result of the increase of the voltage on the screen grid, the plate current ofthe pentode. section of tube 81 increases, and the potential drop across, the resistance increases. Consequently, a corresponding voltage is applied through resistances 92 and 94' upon the grid of the gas tube 10. The voltage thus applied to the grid of the gas tube is depicted by the curve I02 on Fig. 2, whichindicates the variation of the voltage with respect to frequency.

The primary 16 of the transformer 11, condenser 8|, resistance 80, condenser 19, large bypass condenser 18, and the mutual reactance of the condenser 83constitute' a tank circuit tuned to the intermediate frequency. Condenser l9, inductance 8|, condenser 82, together with the mutual reactance of the condenser83, also constitute a tankcircuit tuned to intermediate frequency. This circuit is excited through condenser 19 andalso through condenser 83'. coupling of these tank circuits. through condenser 19 is inversely proportional to the frequency, while the coupling occurring through coil 8|, which is energized by a portion of the primary tank circuit current flowing through condenser 83, is proportional to the frequency.

Due to these opposing electrostatic and electro-' magnetic couplings and the parameters of the elements of the two tank circuits, when a signal of exactly intermediate frequency is received by the primary 16, the potential across the con- The denser 82 is a minimum. In other words, the eifect of the coupling occurring through condenser 83 produces a voltage drop across the inductance 8| which is equal and opposite to the voltage drop occurring across the condenser 19 at resonance. The value of the resistor 80 is selected so as to bring the voltage across the condenser 19 one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with the voltage across the coil 8I. Under these conditions, there will be substantially zero voltage across the condenser 82 at resonance. Considered in another light, the electromagnetic and electrostatic couplings are balanced or neutralized, i. e., the inductive or capacitative reactive components are made to balance or neutralize. There remains a resistive component of coupling which can be balanced or neutralized only by a resistive component supplied, in the arrangement described, by the resistor 80. of the coupled circuits may be considered as a balanced bridge circuit or a circuit providing zero coupling at resonance.

On the other hand, if the signal received by the primary I6 is slightly out of resonance, there is no longer a balance between the opposing couplings; that is, the effect of one coupling is greater than that of the other, and a potential varying with the departure from the resonance frequency exists across the condenser 82. The variation of the voltage across the condenser 82 with frequency is indicated diagrammatically in the curve I03 of Fig. 2. Thus, it will be seen that when a station is accurately tuned in, no

signal (or a minimum signal in case the balance between the two tuned circuits is not quite exact) is applied to the control grid 86 of tube 81. When the variable condensers 29 are approaching exact tuning, that is, two or three kilocycles away from exact tuning, a very large alternating current voltage is applied to the grid 86 and a correspondingly large alternating current voltage is induced in the secondary of the transformer 95. This voltage is rectified by the diode section of tube 87 and causes a voltage drop across resistance 92, the plate or negative side of which is connected to the grid of the gas tube through resistance 94 to apply a negative voltage to that grid. The variation of the negative voltage applied to the grid of the gas tube with respect to frequency is shown by the curve I04 of Fig. 2. It will be understood that the curve I04 generally corresponds to the curve I03 after amplification in the pentode section and rectification by the diode section 88 of tube 8?. The height or magnitude of the single peaked relative to the double peaked control voltage is controllable by varying the coupling of the transformer 95.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a resultant voltage equal to the algebraic sum of the positive direct current voltage represented by the curve I 02 and the negative direct current voltage represented by the curve I84 is applied to The resultant volt- 6 In one aspect the arrangement J the automatic gain control.

When reso- N 63. Thevoltage at which ionization occurs may be some value, such for instance as that indicated by the dotted line I06 in Fig. 3, so that the gas tube is ionized only when the tuning means condensers are in position very closely to tune in a station.' The tube I0 ionizes and its plate-cathode resistance drops to a low value. The condenser 98, which accumulates a high charge by reason of itsconnection to the B supply through the resistor 99 during deionizatlon of the tube I0, now discharges rapidly through the relay 45, and the clutch elements 36 and 31 instantly disengage, thus terminating the drive of the condensers. At the same time, the switch 45 is opened to disconnect the motor from the battery. The steady current flow through the resistor 99 and relay 45 is sufiicient to hold the relay closed after the condenser 98 is discharged. As the switch 46 is opened, the switch 48 is also opencd. This disconnects the connection between the grids of the tubes I! and ground which had previously muted the audio frequency output of the set. Thus, the audio output of the set can again be heard from the speaker IS. A further function performed by the relay 45 is to close the switch 47, thus connecting one terminal of the condenser 14, which was previously open circuited, to ground. This renders the condenser I4 effective to increase the time delay applied to the automatic volume control voltage which is required for proper quality during the audible reception of a signal.

When the condenser I4 is not in circuit, as when the tuning operation is being effected, the automatic gain control has a time constant shorter than the time required for the variable tuning means to pass by a radio signal. This insures that the actuating voltage will build up sufficiently fast to eifect ionization of the gas tube when the station is tuned in, thus preventing a reduction insensitivity which would result from a delay long as compared with time of passing through the signal. This is important when the actuating voltage is derived, as here, from In between stations the automatic gain control voltage is a minimum and if delayed the automatic gain control voltage would not come up to a maximum until after some delay and until after the station had been tuned in, if the delay was suificiently long. However, by utilizing the fast acting automatic gain control the gain control voltage is built up rapidly, as is the actuating voltage. Consequently, the tuning in of the signal is insured.

The volume may be adjusted at any time by moving the movable blade of the volume control switch 54 to one side or the other. The solenoid SI is thereby energized, operatively connecting the motor to the shaft 55, and the motor is en ergized and drives shaft 55 to move the arm 51 in the appropriate direction to increase or decrease the volume.

When it is desired to tune in a diiferent station, the switch 62 is opened manually so that the cathode to ground connection of the plate circuit of the gas tube I0 is broken. The gas tube is thus deionized and the relay 45 is consequently deenergized, and the switch 46 closes so that the motor is put into operation. When the switch 62 is allowed to close again, the gas tube 70 Willbe re-ionized when a signal of adequate strength is received.

The grid bias of the gas tube 10 may be adjusted at will'by means of the rheostat 63 so that the minimum strength of station to which the stop-on-carrier system will respond may be regulated at Will.

It may be well briefly to review some of the outstanding advantages of the balanced bridge or zero coupling at resonance circuit for stop-oncarrier' tuning. This circuit produces a double peaked selectivity curve, as shown at I04 in Fig. 2, the signal voltage of which drops very sharply in the immediate vicinity of resonance. This very sharp change in signal strength with small 1 curve of a tuned circuit with practically zero resistance, and ithas the characteristic that the voltage falls practically to zero at the resonant frequency. With any appreciable effective resistance in the circuit, the bottom of the depression would depart more from linearity and the voltage would not fall near zero at resonance.

It may also be noted that the signal from the balanced bridge circuit does not itself cause the;

ionization of the gas tube, but prevents the ioni ation of this tube by the single-peaked control voltage illustrated bythe cizrve I02 in Eig. 2, es:- cept in the immediate vicinity of resonance. As long as the voltage shown by the (:"rVB Ii"4 has a certain appreciable value, the voltage shown by the curve I02 cannot effect ionization. Although it is the voltage shown by the curve I92 that causes ionization, still it is the voltage from the balanced bridge circuit'shown by the curve I04 which determines when or at what frequency ionization is effected.

It should be noted further that with this arrangement, the gas tube cannot beionied by a broad signal,but is responsive only to a signal of the required sharpness, such as that from a broadcasting station. Abroad signal r sults in a high value. of the voltage represented by the curve I04 wherever the voltage represented by the curve I02 is high. Thus,. with a broad signal, the voltage I04 efiective'y prevents the ionization of the gas tube by the voltage I532. The gas tube will be ionized only when the signal is so sharp that the voltage shown by the curve ,5.

I04 is low at the same frequency or at the same time that the voltage shown by the curve I532 is high. The ionization of the gas tube is thus not possible by broad electrical dist rbances, regardless of their intensity. On the contrary,.the gas tube may readily be ionized by a weak signal from a broadcasting station through heavy broad electrical disturbances which cannot ionizethe gas tube. However, if the broad electrical disturbances are heavy enough and occur at exactly the same time as the signal from a broadcasting station tending to ionize the gas tube, the broad disturbances may prevent the ioniation of the gas tube by the sharp signal. But

inasmuch as the common varieties of broad elec-. trical disturbances are extremely brief in dura-.

tion, the chance of their occurrence at exactly the right instant is small. It has been demonstrated this application will consistently tunein weak broadcasting stations through extremely strong and frequent static disturbances.

In another aspect, it may be noted that stoppage of the tuning condensers will not be effected in response to a broad signal. It will, however, be efiected by a narrow signal in the presence of a broad signal, if the former is of longer duration so that there is some time at which the control voltage resulting from the broad signal is low and that rrsulting from the narrowsignal is high. Again, stoppage will not be effected in response to a narrow signal in the presence of an uninterrupted broad signal of sufficient amplitude. However, since the peaks of mostundesired signals, such as static, are of brief duration, the present arrangement utilizing opposing control voltages pro.ides a very effective means for eliminating the effect: of interference.

While it is preferable, in order to minim'ze stoppage in response to static, that the single peaked control voltage have a lower maximum value than the max ma of the double peaked voltage, and that the depression betwern the maxima of the latter be narrower, at least at its lower end,'with respect to frequency than the upper part of the former, as indicated in Fig. 2, these are not ncceszary.

In the event the tuning of the rccciver is carried out in one direction only, i. e., by varying the frequency in one direction, the voltage represented by only one of the two peaks of the double peaked. curve would be effectively utilized as the tuning means would be stopped at the resonant frequency when approaching that freq ency.

In Fig. 4 there is illu;trated an alternating cure rant superheterodyne recei. er embodying my invention in which elements corresponding to elee ments of Fig. l are indicated b1 like reference characters. The rJceiver comprises an aerial It], a radio frequency tube II, a first detector and oscillator tube Iii, intermediate frequency tubes I3 and IS, a tube l4 comprising a fiode section IJ aid an audio amplifier section I0, an

audio amplifier tube I0, and two rower amplifier tubes Ilconnected in pu h-pull rtlation. I'he output of the power tubes I! is connected through a transformer IS to the voice coil IQ of a speaker 23. Energy is sup; lied by means of a power pack designated generally by the referenc numeral I03,

, recei ing current from the continuously energi ed power leads Bill and supplying B voltage to conductor I38 and screen grid voltage to a conductor I278. The cathode of the tube I3 is mai tain'd at a positive voltage relative to ground by a resistanci H3, anj. a .oltage nzgcti e relative to ground is suppied to a conductor Ill by means of the resistor I i I.

'ihe power ba;k comprises a transformer II2 which supplies current of suitable voltage, {or exam le 24 volts, to a sezisitivity selector relay H3 and one or other of the i indings 'iI and I2 of a reversible alternating current capacitor motor 3|.

The receiver is tuned by means of the gang of condensers 29 operable by a shaft 30 driven by the motor 3| through pinion I I4, gear I I5, clutch elements H5, pinion ill, gear IIO, pinion IIS, and gear I20, the direction of drive depending upon which of the windings TI or I2 is energized. At each end of the condenser travel, an abutment member 00 carried by the'shaft 33 operates limit switch BI fromone posit'on to the other so as automatically to connect the other winding 'II or I2, as the case may be, in circuit and thereby reverse the automatic drive of the condenser shaft. It may here be noted that when the motor is operating automatically to drive the condenser in one direction and in the other, th windings H and 12 are connected across the secondary of transformer II2 through a switch I2I, resistance I22, fixed contact blade I23, and the movable and grounded switch blade I24 by the limit switch 6|, with condenser I24A being alternately connected in series with first one and then the other of the two windings. When the motor windings are energized through the aforementioned resistance I 22, the motor is effective to drive only the tuning condensers. provided, of course, that the clutch elements HS are in engagement. At this time the motor armat re I3 is biased to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, by means of a spring, and keeps out of mesh pinion I25 and gear I26 forming part of the volume control mechanism.

When it is desired to operate the volume control, to be descr bed specifically hereinafter. the full voltage obtainable from transformer H2 is applied to either f the windings H or 12 by means of normally open button switches I21 and I28, respectively. When either of the switches I21 or I28 is closed, the energization of the motor windings is thus increased to move the armature 13 to t e ri ht, as viewed in Fig. 4, when it starts to rotate against the action of the spring to effect meshing of pinion I25 and gear I26 and rotation of the latter. through pinion I29, gear I39, pinion I3I, and gear I 32, to a shaft I 33 carrying the movable contact 51 of a volume control potentiom ter 58.

The motor c rcuit power control switch I2I and a switch I34 controlling the supply of power to the power pack are also operable by the motor driven s aft I33. These switches, like the switches 22 and 59 of Fi 1, are op n when the shaft I33 is at the zero volume position of the contact 51 of the potentiomet r 58. When the switch I21 is closed, the winding H is connected directly across the secondary winding of transformer H2 and the motor 3! operates to increase the volume setting of the potentiometer 58 and to close the switches I2I and I34. The switch I34 is in series with the primary of the power transformer I35 of the power pack I06, so that the set is put into operation by closing the switch I21 and holding it until the switches I34 and I2I are moved to circuit closing position. When the switch I28 is closed, the volume setting of the potentiometer 58 is lowered, but the switches I2I and I34 do not open until it is lowered to zero.

One side of the secondary of the transformer I I2 is grounded and connected by a conductor I36 to one side of the power and volume control switches I21, I 28, a station changer switch I31, and a sensitivity selector switch I 38. The other side of the switch I 38 is connected b conductor I40 to one side of the sensitivity selector relay I I3. The other side f the switch I3! is connected to the conductor I40 through a current limiting impedance I4I The other side of the switch I 21 is connected through conductor I42 to winding II of the motor 3I, and the other side of the switch I28 is connected through a conductor I43 to the winding 12 of the motor 3|. Windings "II and 12 are also connected by conductors I43 and I44 to the two fixed contacts of limit switch BI. The other sides of the windings 'II and 12 are connected through conductor I46 to the ungrounded side of the secondary of the transformer II2, as is the other side of the relay H3.

The switches I21, I28, I31, and I38 are preferably assembled as a remote control unit and con- The gear I26 is connected nected to the receiver as by a single cable I 41 including conductors I36, I40, I42, and I43. This cable may be of any desired length so that the remote control unit may be located at a suitable position for convenient operation by the listener.

When the sensitivity selector switch I38 is closed, the relay H3 is energized b the full voltage of the secondary of the transformer I I2, and when switch I3! is closed, the relay is energized by only part of the transformer voltage. This relay comprises an armature normally closing a switch I48 and adapted when the relay II 3 is either fully or partly energized to open the switch and deionize the gas tube 10. The relay also comprises switches operable by the armature to select either a high or low sensitivity whereby either both strong and weak or strong stations only may be received. This mechanism includes a ratchet wheel I49 mounted on a rotatable shaft I50 and a cam wheel I5I operable upon alternate actuations of the ratchet wheel to open and close first and second switches constituted, the first by fixed and movable blades I52 and I53 and the second by similar blades I54 and I55. The ratchet wheel is so arranged relative to the relay armature that it is actuated only when the relay winding is fully energized by closure of switch I38.

The gas tube 10 of this embodiment is of the type comprising a shield grid connected to the cathode. Specifically, it is an RCA 2051 tube (as distinguished from the three element tvpe 884.) It is preferable to the three el ment type because of better operating characteristics, higher control factor, and as it requ res a smaller grid voltage r charge to effect ionization. The cathode of the gas tube 10 is connected through a resistance I 56 and a manually adjustable sensitivity control rheostat I51 to blade I54 and to a resistance I58. The other side of the resistance I58 is connected to the switch blade I 55 and t one side of the switch I48. The other side of the switch I48 is grounded and connected to the switch blade I53. A high resistance I59 is connected across the switch I48 to prevent sparking.

The cathode circuit of the tube I0 is thus connected to ground through res stance I56, rheostat I51, resistance I58. and switch I48 when the switches are in the position shown in Fig. 4. Conseouently, when the relay H3 is energi ed either partially or wholly by operation of either of the switches I31 or I38, the plate circuit is broken at the switch I48 and the tube 10 is deionized. If the relay H3 is fully energized by closin the switch I38, the tube is also deionized, but at the same time, switch blade I 55 is moved into engagement with blade I54. thus shorting the resistance I58 and increasing the sensitivity of the stop- On-carrier system b decreasing the negative grid bias applied to the grid of the gas tube and permitting the tripping'of the tube by a lesser positive voltage.

The plate circuit of the gas tube 10 also includes a relay I60 controlling the clutching of the motor to the tuning condensers and a relay I6I controlling the energization of the motor and performing other functions to be referred to shortly. During the reception of a station, tube 10 is ionized and the relays I60 and ISI are energized and the contacts I23 and I24 are separated. When these contacts are in engagement, the motor circuit is completed through resistance I22 and switch 6| so that the motor drives the gang of condensers from one extreme position to the other and back again, and so forth, until the relays I60 and I6I are energized upon the tuning in of a station. The separation-of the contacts I23 and I24 resulting from energization of the relay I6I deenergizes the motor, and at the same time,the energization of the relay I60 separates the clutch elements IIIi. It may be well at this point to note that the pinion I I1 is mounted upon an axially movable shaft having an armature I62 at the end adjacent relay I60. A spring I63 biases the shait to the right to bring the clutch elements into engagement when the relay is deenergized, although better to illustrate the construction the clutch elements are shown disengaged.

A second sensitivity adjustment is provided by an adjustable rheostat I65 controlling the bias of the radio frequency tube I I. The ungrounded end of the rheostat I65 is connected to a fixed switch blade I66 of relay I6I and to switch blade I52 of the sensivity selector relay I I3. When a stat on is being received, the relay I6I is ener gized and contact I66 isengaged by contact I61 after the latter has firstbeen engaged and depressed by the grounded switch blade I68., When the gas tube 10 is deionized, and the relay I6I is deenergized, this ground connection is broken. Since the resistance I65is in the cathode circuit of tube II only whena station is being tuned in (and not during reception from a station), the result is decreased sensitivity during tuning and increased sensitivity during reception. While this mode of operation results inthe e imination of reception of weak stationsrit has the advantage that the stations receivedare received. at a more nearly constant level. If the sensitivity re- Irained low after a station was tuned in, the

automatic volume control (to. which reference will be had shortly) would have but limited effect and there would be a greater difference in the reception volume of weak and strong stations. This disadvantage is avoided by the present invention. I

However, if it is desired to tune in the weaker stations, then resistance-I65 is .short circuited by closing switch I38 to operate relay II3 to actuate cam wheel I5I to close its "associated switches. Notonly is resistance I65 then grounded through switch blades I52 and I53, but so is resistance I58, as already described, to increase the sensitivity of the gas tube.

Adjustment of the sensitivity levels may be effected. byadjustments'of resistors I51 and I65. If desired, the resistor I65may' beiused alone and res stors I51 and I58 eliminated.

The receiver is muted during tuning when the relay I6I is deenergized as the grounded blade I68 is in engagement with a switch blade I69 connected to the grid of the amplifier tube I6. This ground is removed during rece tion by disengagement of contacts I68 and I19.

Automatic volume control voltage is supplied by the diode section I5 of tube I4 having the resistor I10 in circuit therewith. The voltage drop across this resistor is applied to a conductor I1I connected through a resistance I12 to a conductor I13 from whence it is applied to the grids ofthe tubes II and I2. The automatic volume control voltage is applied also to resistances I14 and I16, the latter of which is grounded, The comtube 10 is deionized and the relay I6I isdeendensers I16 and I11 are not in circuit.

14 ergized, as they are during tuning, contacts I18 and I61 are ungrounded, and consequently the automatic volume control applied to the tubes II, I2, and I3 is fast in its action as con- When, however, a station is received and the relay I6I is energized, the condensers I16 and I11 are grounded and the automatic volume control applied to tubes II, I2, and I3, becomes slow due to the time required for the charging and discharging of the condensers which are then in circuit.

v, The output ofotube I3 is connected to the rectifier section I 19 of a tube I80 through a pair of tank circuits constructed andarranged as described in connection with Fig. 1, and the various elements of which are indicated by like reference characters. The condensers 84 and 9I connected to the tank circuit are also connected to the anode of the rectifier section I19 and to the cathode common to the rectifier section and a triode section I8I. A resistance I82 is connected between the cathode and the anode of the rectifier so that, when a voltage is applied across the rectifier, a negative voltage appears at the anode end of the resistance. This negative voltage is applied through resistor I83 and a bias battery I84 .to theigrid of the triode section of the tube, .the battery being utilizedso that a higher plate voltage may be used. The cathode is connected to thecontrol grid of the gas tube 10 through a resistance I85, the grid end of which is connected to ground by a condenser I86, providing a time delay in the action of the gas tube. The plate of the triode section I8I is connected by a conductor I81 to the plate end of a resistor I88 through which plate voltage is supplied to the first intermediate frequency tube I3. A resistor I88 connecting the plate end of resistor I88 to ground is supplied to provide proper plate voltage to the triode section I8I. The control grid of the gastube 10 is normally biased negatively with respect to ground by connection to the previously mentioned conductor III through a resistance I89, which resistance is thus also effectively in the plate cathode circuit of triode section I8I of tube I80. The gas tube and relay I6I also have in circuit therewith the condenser 98 adapted to dischargethrough the relay to effect fast operation of the latter, the bleeder resistance I80 to provide grid biasing current flow when the sumed they are in the positions indicated in Fig.

4, i. e., switch I48 is closed and switches I52I53 and I54 I55 open, thereby conditioning the re ceiver for reception at low sensitivity. The relay I6! is deenergized so that (1) switch blades I66 and I61 are out of engagement so that the receiver is conditioned for low sensitivity reception because resistance I65 is in circuit more negatively to bias the grid of tube I I; (2) switch blades I68 and I69 are in engagement to ground the grid of amplifier tube I6 and thereby mute the receiver;v(3) switch blades I23 and I24 are in engagement to condition the motor 3| for operation after opening of push button switch I21, which is closed to start operation of the receiver; and (4) switch blades I61 and I18 are in circuit opening position to disconnect condensers I16 and I11 from ground, thereby to provide the fast AVC. The clutch control relay I60 is also deenergized so that the condensers are operatively connected to the motor shaft by the clutch elements I I6.

To place the receiver in operation, volume increasing switch I2'I is closed for a length of time sufficient for the motor 3| to close switches I2I and I34. Closure of switch I21 results in the application of full voltage to motor winding II, and the motor armature 13 is displaced to the right to eiTect meshing of pinion I and gear 26 and consequent rotation of shaft I33 in volume increasing direction to close switches I2 I and I34. The motor is effective also to drive the condensers as relay I60 is deenergized.

When the switch I21 is opened, the motor continutes to rotate first in one direction and then the other to drive the tuning condensers under the control of limit switch 6 I, the motor remaining energized through a circuit including the limit switch, switch I2I, resistance I22, and the closed switch blades I23 and I24 of relay I6I until the tubes have been heated and a station received. When switch I21 is opened and resistance I22 placed in the motor circuit, the energization of winding H (or of winding 12, depending upon which is in circuit at any particular time) v is decreased so that the volume control shaft I33 is no longer driven as pinion I25 and gear I26 are moved out of mesh by action of the spring on the motor armature.

After the tubes have been heated, but prior to the reception of a carrier signal from a broadcast station, the plate current of tube I3 is high because no AVC voltage is applied to its grid. Consequently, the voltage drop across resistance I88, which is in the plate circuit of the tube, is also high. This high voltage drop results in the application of a relatively low voltage to the plate of the triode section of tube I80, which, it may be remembered, is supplied through conductor 101, connected to the plate side of resistance :88. Upon reception of a carrier signal the voltage applied to the plate of the triode section of tube I80 is substantially increased, and in a positive direction, because of the application of the AVG voltage (which is fast at this time, as explained above) to the grid of tube I3 and tubes preceding it.

The positive voltage thus applied to the plate of the triode section I8I of tube I80 as a broadcast station is tuned in has a value which follows approximately the contour of curve I02 in Fig. 2. It is to be noted, therefore, that resistance I08 corresponds to and performs substantially the same function as resistance 91 of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

While the plate voltage of the triode section of tube I80 varies, as just described, with the tuning in of a station, the grid voltage of the same ection is also varied in a manner now to be described. As a station is being tuned in, the tank circuits produce a voltage across condenser 82 that varies with frequency as indicated diagrammatically in the curve I03 of Fig. 2. This voltage is rectified by diode section I19 of tube I83 and is applied as a negative voltage to the grid of the triode section I8I, by reason of the grid being connected to the plate side of the resistor I82 of the rectifier circuit. Because of amplification in the triode section, this negative voltage has an efl'ect on the plate current of tube I81 corresponding generally to that shown by curve I04 of Fig. 2.

The plate current of tube I thus varies with frequency, as a station is being tuned in, in a manner generally indicated by the curve I05 of Fig. 3, this curve indicating, as already described, the algebraic sum of the curves I02 and I04 of Fig. 2, and the resultant voltage applied to the grid of the gas tube I0. The plate current of tube I80 flows through resistance I88 connected between the cathode of the tube and ground. The voltage drop across this resistance is applied to the grid of the gas tube 10, and since the grid is connected to the cathode end of the resistance, the greater the current flow, the more positive will be the grid of the gas tube. The effective voltage thus applied to the grid as a result of the opposing positive and negative control voltages applied to the plate and grid of the triode section of tube I80, is indicated by curve I05 of Fig. 5. Consequently, when the tuning condensers are in a position very closely to tune in a station, the positive voltage exceeds the normal negative bias applied to the grid of the gas tube and the tube is ionized.

The ionization of the gas tube upon the tuning in of a station results in the energization of relays I60 and I6I and the former at a fast rate because of the discharge of condenser 88 therethrough. The relay I60 declutches the condensers from the motor, thus preventing further driving of them by the inertia of the motor and associated parts, the relay I60 thus determining the rapidity of stoppage.

The energization of relay I6I results in (1) de energization of the motor by disengagement of contacts I23 and I24; (2) the change of the fast AVC to a slow AVC by grounding condensers I16 and I11, which results from engagement of switch blades I61 and I68, and of blades I24 and I18, respectively; (3) rendering the amplifier I6 effective by ungrounding its grid, which results from the disengagement of blades I68 and I68; and (4) increasing the sen itivity of the receiver by shunting out resistance I65, which result from en agement of switch blades I66, I61 and I68.

When it is desired to tune in another station, push button switch I31 is closed momentarily if it is desired to tune in the next station on the dial, or for a longer time if it is desired to tune in some other station. Closure of switch I31 results in the energization of relay II3 through current limiting impedance I4I so that the relay is energized sufliciently to open switch I48 but not to operate ratchet wheel I48. Opening of switch I48 opens the plate-cathode circuit of the gas tube 10 with the result it is deionized and relays I60 and I6 I are deenergized. The motor 3I is thereupon energized and rotates the tuning condensers until another station is tuned in, in the manner described above.

The volume may be regulated at will during reception by closing swi ch I21 to increase and switch I28 to decrease the volume. These switches connect windings H and 12, respectively, directly across the secondary of transformer II2 so that the motor drives volume control shaft I33 to increase or decrease the volume, as heretofore described, without changing the tuning.

In case it is desired to select high sensitivity, push button switch I38 is closed. This connects relay winding II3 directly across the secondary of transformer I I2 and it is energized sufficiently not only to open switch I48, and thereby condi- *crease the sensitivity of gas'tube 10.

- 'tion the system for reception of another station,

The former shorts out resistance I65 to increase the sensitivity of tube II, in the same manner as it is increased upon energization of relay I6I, and the latter shorts out'resistance I58 to in= The result is reception at increased sensitivity at all times so that both weak and strong stations may be received. As previously indicated, the high and low selectivity may be controlled by adjusting the effective values of resistances I51 and I65 controlling the grid bias of tubes I0 and II.

When it is desired to change from high to low selectivity, push button switch I38 is again closed to energize relay II3 sufiicientlyv to open switch I48 and operate ratchet wheel I49, after which a strong station will be tuned in, as already described.

To render the receiver inoperative, push button switch I28 is held closed so that the motor is operated in volume decreasing direction until power switches I2I and I34 are opened.

In the above described embodiment the proper height of the opposing control voltages is obtained by varying the values of the resistances I14 and I15, which control the effective AVC voltage applied to the grid of tube I3 and there- :7

by the value of the single peaked control voltage. This is preferably done. after adjustingthe gain of the triode section I8I of tube I80 to secure a suitable value of the double peaked control voltage. of the single peaked voltage is made possible without sacrifice of the effectiveness of the AVG by utilizing, in effect, one AVC for tubes II, I2, and I3, and another for tube I3, the source of the single peak control voltage.

The curve I02 should be high enough to cause the ionization of the tube 10 by the weakest stations desired, bearing in mind that the valley between the two peaks of the curve I04 does not fall approximately to zero except on an unmodulated signal. The height of the curve I02 should be kept sulhciently be ow the curve I104 so that the stop-on-carrieraction is'sufiiciently sharp and so that broad signals, such as static, do not ionize the gas tube 10.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated another embodiment of my invention having a different arrangement of tubes but utilizing the balanced bridge circuit of the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 4, which, however, is illustrated physically rather than diagrammatically as in Fig. 1. The elements of the balanced bridge circuit are mounted within a shielding container I06. The mounting means consists mainly of a grounded metallic supporting plate 200 to the under side of which is secured a generally H-shapedbracket I of insulating material, and on the upper side of which there is mounted an insulating plate 202. The adjustable condensers 8i and 82 are secured to the insulating'plate 202 and the windings 16 and I6 are mounted between the plate 200 and the transverse leg of bracket MI. The inductance coil BI is mounted on a support adjustable by a screw 203 and extending between the lower ends of the upright legs of the bracket 20I. Condensers I9 and 83 and resistance 80 are supported within the container by the conductors associated therewith.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5 a control voltage from the balanced bridge circuit is applied. di-

The above adjustment of the value rectly to the control grid 204 of a pentode tube 205, as is a second control voltage obtained from the AVG voltage. The voltage from the balanced bridge circuit is applied through a conductor 206 nd the condenser 84 while that obtained from the AVG is applied throughconductor 291 and an isolating resistance 208. Only a portion of the AVG voltage is utiliized as conductor 20'! is con nected between a pair of resistances 209 and 2I0 connected in series across the source of the AVG voltage. The resistances are shunted by condenser 2H and resistance H0 is also shunted by condenser H2.

The control voltage obtained from the balanced bridge circuit is, of course, alternating, but it is rectified by biasing tube 205 so that it operates near cut-off. Proper bias of the grid 204 of this tube is eiTected by a bias resistance 2 I 3 connected between the cathode of the tube and ground. The bias is normally maintained by reason of the connection of the cathode end of resistance 2I3 to the B supply lead 28 through a 'bleeder resistance. 2I4 and current limiting resistances 2I5 and2 I6.

The plate circuit of tube 205 includes a resistance 2 IT connected at one end to the plate and at the other to the junction of resistances 2| 5 and 2I6.- The voltage drop across this resistance is utilized to control the ionization of the gas tube 10, the grid of which is connected to the plate end of the'resistance by a conductor 258 and a time delay circuit including the resistance 94 and condenser IOI.

The resultant control voltage applied to the grid or gas tube 10 is indicated by curve I05 of Fig. 3, which, it may be recalled, is the resultant of curves I02 and I04 of Fig. 3. The control voltage represented by the single peaked curve I02 is the voltage at the plate end of resistance 2I'I resulting from the application of a portion of the AVC to the grid of tube 205 through conductor 201. While the AVG is a voltage that becomes more negative as resonance is approached, the effect onthe control voltage applied to the grid of gas tube 10 is to make it more positive. This 0 results from the decrease in the plate current of tube 205 as'a more negative voltage is applied to the grid. The decrease in plate current decreases the voltage drop across resistance 2 I 7, so that'the grid of tube 10 is made more positive.

The control voltage represented by the double peaked curve I04 is voltage at the plate end of resistance 2I'I resulting from the application of the output of the balanced bridge circuit to the grid of tube 205. When a station is being tuned in, theoutput rises gradually to a maximum and then falls sharply to a minimum at resonance frequency, which may be zero if the circuit is properly balanced. Since tube 205 is biased to near cut-oil, it acts as a rectifier and the plate current of the tube rises gradually to a maximum and then falls sharply to a minimum. This variation in plate current, which flows through resistance 2 I1, causes the plate end of the latter and the grid of gas tube 10 to be more negative and then sharply less negative as a station is tuned in,

I :the single and doublepeaked control voltages are amplified about the same degree in tube 205. The

separation of weak from strong stations by the sensitivity control is, therefore, made more effectively.

The operation of the embodiment of Fig. when a station is being tuned in is substantially the same as that of Fig. 1, so that it is not deemed necessary to repeat it at this point.

Another balanced bridge circuit embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 6. This circuit may be used with the particular circuit arrangements of any of Figs. 1, 4, and 5 by substituting the elements enclosed in dotted lines for similarly enclosed elements in the latter figures. The primary l6 and secondary 16 of transformer H are connected to the circuit as previously described. A first tank circuit, tuned to intermediate frequency, is constituted by the primary winding, an adjustable condenser 220, an inductance comprising two parts 222 and 223, condenser 224, and the condenser 18. Portion 222 is made of comparatively few turns that are adjustable to vary the mutual inductance therebetween and an inductance 226 forming part of the second tank circuit. This construction provides, in effect, a Vernier adjustment for the mutual inductance. A second tank circuit, also tuned to intermediate frequency, is constituted by the condenser 224, the inductance 225 coupled to inductance 222223, and an adjustable condenser 228. The junction of condensers 224 and'228 is grounded and the junction of inductance 226 and condenser 228 is connected to the tube to be supplied with the output from the balanced bridge circuit through the condenser 84.

The two tank circuits are coupled inductively by reason of the coupling between the inductances 222-223 and 226 and capacitatively through condenser 224. The mutual inductive reactance of inductances 222223 and 226 and the capacitative reactance of condenser 224 are so adjusted that they are equal at intermediate frequency and the voltages across inductance 226 and condenser 224 are brought into exact phase opposition by a resistance 23a and a very small adjustable condenser 232 connected across condenser 220 and inductance 222223. Considered in another light, the electromagnetic and electrostatic couplings are balanced or neutralized, i. e., the inductive and capacitative reactive components are made to balance or neutralize. There remains, however, a resistive component of coupling which can be balanced or neutralized only by a resistive component supplied, in the arrangement of Fig. 6, by the resistor 23! The arrangement, like that of the previously described circuit, is such that at intermediate frequency the voltage across condenser 224 is equal to and opposite the voltage across inductance 226. In other words, there is zero effective coupling between the two circuits and zero voltage across the condenser 228.

It may be well at this point to describe briefly how the balanced bridge circuits are adjusted. In the circuit of Figs. 1, 4, and 5, the condensers SI and 82 of the two tank circuits are first adjusted to tune these circuits to intermediate frequency. The mutual inductance between the primary coil 76 and the secondary coil 81 is then adjusted by means of the screw 203 shown in Fig. 5 to bring the steep depression or valley between the two peaks close to a minimum voltage, which should be close to zero on an unmodulated signal at intermediate frequency. Condensers 8| and 82 may then be readjusted'to insure that both tank circuits are tuned to the intermediate frequency. The mutual inductance may then again be adjusted, as described above, to bring the two peaks of the curve [04' in Fig. 2 to approximately the same height on each side of the intermediate frequency. The

resistance 80 should be maintained with close enough tolerance to insure the reduction of voltage across the condenser 82 to near zero at resonance. If the values of the circuits are correct, the adjusting screw should be adjusted for zero coupling between coil 16 and coil 81. However, if the circuit constants are slightly incorrect, a limited amount of compensation may be obtained by means of the adjusting screw 203.

The approximate values of the circuit constants for the circuit of Figs. 1, 4, and 5, and for an intermediate frequency of 460 kc. are as follows:

Condenser 8| mmL- 200 Condenser 82 "mini" 78 Condenser 83 mmf 22 Inductance 8| mh 1.2 Inductance 16 min. .7 Condenser T8 mf .1 Condenser l9 mmL- 700 Inductance l6 mh .22 Resistance 80 ohms 17 It should be understood that the capacities of the condensers will vary somewhat with the distributed capacities of the inductances and that the resistance of resistor 80 will vary considerably with the Q of the circuits, i. e., with the resistances of the other elements of the circuits.

The balanced bridge circuit of Fig. 6 is adjusted by first adjusting condensers 22B and 228 to tune the two tank circuits to intermediate frequency. The mutual coupling between the Vernier inductance 222 and the inductance 226 is then adjusted to bring the two peaks on either side of the intermediate frequency to approximatel the same height. The condenser 232 is then adjusted for correct phasing, which, when attained, will bring the bottom of the steep depression between the two peaks close to zero voltage. The above described adjustments are all relatively independent of one another, the capacity of condenser 232 being so small as to have a negligible effect on the tuning of the tank circuit. The approximate values of the circuit constants for the circuit of Fig. 6, for an inter1ne mediate frequency of 460 kc., are as follows:

Condenser 220 mrnf 180 Condenser 228 "mini" 224 Inductance 16 mh .7 Inductance 16' mh .35 Condenser 224 mmf 720 Condenser l8 mf .1 Inductance 222223 mh .123 Inductance 226 mh .7 Mutual inductance 222-223, 225 rnh .l56 Resistance 230 ohms 250,000

The balanced bridge circuits described above, while' of proven merit, are intended merely to be illustrative of the principles of the invention and they may be modified by those skilled in the art to meet the exigencies of the particular installation or use. The primary principle embodied in the circuits is the obtaining of a re duced output voltage at a desired frequency which can be reduced substantially to zero by coupled circuits characterized by 'capacitative resistance to the circuit or a resistance and a capacity controlling the effective value of the resistance, it is possible to obtain the phase o pposition by utilizing a reactance element having a resistance component. Other modifications of the invention may be made without departing fromthe principles set forth herein.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, a source of alternating current voltage, means including tuned means energized by said voltage for supplying a first control voltage which is a maximum at a predetermined frequency, means including tuned means energized by said voltage for supplying a second control voltage opposing the first and which is a maximum at a frequency slightly displaced from said predetermined frequency and which drops sharply to a minimum at said frequency, an electron tube having an output circuit including a plate and a control grid for changing the current in said output circuit, means responsive to the current in said output circuit, and means supplied with said control voltages for applying control voltages proportional to said first and second control voltages to the control grid and plate, respectively, of said electron tube to change the current in the output circuit thereof.

2. In a radio receiver having variable tuning means, thecombination including, power means for driving said tuning means, relay means starting and stopping said power means, manually operable means controlling said relay means for starting said power means to drive said tuning means, means controlling said relay means for automatically stopping the driving of said tuning means when a carrier signal is closely tuned in, and means operable by said relay means for decreasing the sensitivity of said relay controlling means when said tuning means is being driven by said power means.

3. In a radio receiver having variable tuning means, the combination including, means for driving said tuning means, relay means for start-,

ing and stopping said driving means, means controlling said relay for automatically stopping said tuning means when a carrier signal is closely tuned in, means operable by said relay means for decreasing the sensitivity of reception of a high frequency section of the receiver during the time said tuning means is driven by said driving means, and means for rendering said last mentioned means ineffective.

4. In a radio receiver having tuning means, an amplifier comprising a tube having a .grid, and a source of automatic volume control voltage connected to said grid, the combination including, an electron tube having an output circuit and electrode means for controlling the current in said output circuit, means responsive to the current in said output circuit, means energized by a signal voltage from said amplifier for supplying a restraining control voltage to the electrode means of said electron tube which is a minimum at a predetermined frequency and a maximum at a frequency slightly displaced from said frequency, and meansenergized by a signal voltage from said amplifier for supplying an actuating control voltageto the electrode. means of said electron tube which is a maximum at said frequency, said last mentioned means. including a resistor in the plate circuit of said amplifier tube and a connection from the plate end of said resistor to the electrode means of said electron tube.

5. In a radio receiver having tuning means and a source of negative automatic volume control voltage, the combination including, an electron tube having an output circuit and a grid, resistance means in said output circuit, means conductively connected to the plate end of said resistance means for automatically stopping said tuning means when a carrier signal is closely tuned in and the plate end of said resistance means is at a maximum positive value, and a connection from said source of automatic volume control voltage to the grid of said electron tube for causing the current in the output circuit of the latter to have a minimum value when a station is tuned in closely.

6. In a radio receiver having tuning means and a source of automatic volume control voltage, the combination including, an electron tube having a plate and a control electrode, resistance means in the plate circuit of said tube, a source of B voltage connected to said plate through said resistance means, means including a second electron tube having a control electrode connected tothe plate end of said resistance means and a connection from said source of automatic volume control voltage to the grid of said first mentioned electron tube causing the current in the plate circuit of the latter to have a minimum value and the potential applied to its control electrode a maximum value for automatically stopping said tuning means when a carrier signal from a station is closely tuned in.

7. In a radio receiver having tuning means and a source of negative automatic volume control voltage, the combination including, an electron tube having an output circuit and a grid biased so as to cause said tube to act as a rectifier, re-

sistance means in said output circuit, means responsive to the current in said outputcircuit connected tothe plate end of said. resistance means, and. a connection from said source of automatic volume control. voltage to the grid of said electrontube for causing the current in theoutput circuit of thelatter to have a minimum value and the plate end of said resistance means to have a maximum, positive, direct current voltage when a station is tuned in closely.

8. In a controllable radio device, an electron tube including two plates and common cathode means in circuit therewith, a resistor connected to said cathode means and in circuit with one of said plates, a condenser shunted across said resistor, a resistor connected to said cathode means and in circuit with the other of said plates, a condenser shunted across said resistor, the time delays of the voltages appearing across said resistors being generally similar, an electron tube having a control grid, and means for applying the voltage developed across said resistors in series to'the control grid of said electron tube to control said device, v v

9. In stop' -on-signal radio apparatus, variable tunin means, a plate voltage supply, electron tube means including a grid, two plates, and common cathode means in circuit therewith, resistive means connected to said cathode in circuit with one of said plates, resistive means connected between sald cathode means and the plate voltage source, the other side of said plate voltage source being connected with the other of said plates,

23 impedance means connected between said grid and a point intermediate the ends of said second mentioned resistive means, means including an electron tube having a control grid for controlling the variation of said tuning means, and means for applying the voltage developed across said two resistive means in series to the control grid of said electron tube to control said tuning means.

10. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, a circuit including amplifying means, variable tuning means and amplifying means sensitivity varying means, means for varying said tuning means to tune in a signal, means including a control tube coupled to said circuit and controlled in response to the tuning of said circuit and a relay operable thereby controlling said sensitivity varying means for varying the sensitivity of said amplifying means in response to the tuning of said circuit, and sensitivity varying means for said control tube.

11. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, a radio frequency circuit including tuning means and amplifying means, a detector coupled to said amplifying means, means coupled to and energized by said detector supplying a negative direct current first control voltage which has a peak value at a predetermined frequency, means including low resistance sharp cutoff filter means coupled to and energized from said amplifying means for providing an alternating current second control voltage opposing the first and which has maxima at frequencies slightly displaced from the first and a minimum at said predetermined frequency, an electron tube having an output circuit, means coupled to said output circuit for controlling said tuning means, and means for controlling the current in said output circuit in response to both said control voltages.

12. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, a radio frequency circuit including tuning means and amplifying means, a detector coupled to said amplifying means, means coupled to and energized by said detector supplying a negative direct current first control voltage which has a peak value at a predetermined frequency, means including low resistance sharp cutofi filter means coupled to and energized from said amplifying means for providing an alternating current second control voltage opposing the first and which has maxima at frequencies slightly displaced from the first and a minimum at said predetermined frequency, an electron tube having a grid and an output circuit, means including another electron tube coupled to said output circuit for controlling said tuning means, and means supplying said first and I second control voltages to said grid for controlling the current in said output circuit in response to both said control voltages.

13. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, variable tuning means, an electron tube including a grid, a high voltage control electrode, a diode plate, and common cathode means in circuit therewith, an impedance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with said high voltage control electrode, an impedance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with the diode plate, means coupling the grid to the diode plate, two control voltages, means for applying one of said control voltages to the high voltage control electrode, and means for applying the other of said control voltages to the diode plate, an electronic relay device having control grid means, and means for applying the voltage developed across the said high voltage electrode circuit impedance in re- 24 sponse to said two control voltages to the control grid means to control said variable tuning means.

14. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, variable tuning means, an electron tube including a rectifier plate, a control electrode, and common cath ode means in circuit therewith, an impedance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with said rectifier plate, an impedance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with said control electrode, two control voltages, means for applying one of said control voltages to said rectifier plate and the other to said control electrode, an electronic relay device having control grid means, and means for applying the voltage developed across said impedances in series to the control grid means of said electronic relay device to control said variable tuning means in response to said two control voltages.

15. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, variable tuning means; amplifier means coupled thereto, having a plurality of tubes with grids and cathodes; a relay, coupled to said amplifier means, for stopping tuner variation; means for biasing a plurality of said grids more negative relative to their cathodes to reduce the gain of said amplifying means and the strength of the operating signal applied to said relay during tuner variation, thereby to prevent relay operation by relatively weak signals While permittingoperation on stronger signals; and a circuit including a contact operated by said relay, to shunt said biasing means and thereby restore the gain of said amplifier means after stoppage of the tuner by operation of the relay.

16. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus having a speaker, variable tuning means; means for varying said tuning means; an amplifier coupled to said tuning means for supplying an amplified signal to the speaker and for tuning control;

, automatic and manually adjustable gain control means for said amplifier; a relay coupled to said amplifier for stopping the variation of said tuning means in response to a relatively weak signal or only in response to a stronger signal, depending on the setting of said manual gain control means; and a member controlled by operation of said relay to nullify the gain reduction of said manual gain control means, thus permitting full action of said automatic gain control means on the sound output of the speaker.

17. In stop-on-signal radio receiver apparatus, a variable tuner; means operated in response to a signal tuned thereby for stopping tuner vari ation; means for reducing the sensitivity of at least one stage of said radio receiver, means operated in response to the output signal of at least one said sensitivity reduced stage for preventing operation of said variation stopping means by relatively weak signals tuned in by said tuner, while permitting operation by stronger signals; and means operated by said stopping means to render said sensitivity reducing means ineffective after the operation of said stopping means.

18. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus having a speaker, a variable tuner; an amplifier coupled thereto for supplying an amplified signal to the speaker; relay means for stopping tuner variation coupled to said amplifier; manually adjustable means controlling the sensitivity of said amplifier and the strength of the operating signal applied to said relay, to prevent operation of said relay by weaker signals tuned by said tuner, while permitting operation by stronger signals; and a circuit including a switch operated by said relay means to nullify the effect of said adjustable sen- 25 sitivity control means after the signal has been tuned in.

19. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, variable tuning means, power means for varying the tuning means, electron tube means including cathode means and at least two anodes, a resistance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with one of said anodes, another resistance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with the other anode, the end of one resistance being connected to the end of the other resistance developing voltage of like polarity, two different control voltages varying in response to variation of said tuning means, means coupling one of said control voltages to one of said anodes and the other control voltage to the other anode, a relay controlling said power means, a relay tube having a control grid, cathode and anode, means coupling said relay to said relay tube anode, means for applying a voltage proportional to the difference between the voltages developed across said two resistances in series between the grid and cathode of said relay tube to control said power means and stop said variable tuning means in response to said two control voltages.

20. In stop-on-signal radio apparatus, variable tuning means, electron tube means including cathode means and at least two anodes, a re sistance connected to said cathode means 'and'in circuit with one of said anodes, another resistance connected to said cathode means and in circuit with the other anode, the end of one of said resistances developing a positive voltage be- 26 ing connected to the end of the other resistance developing voltage of like polarity, two differ- I ent control voltages responsive to variation of said tuning means, means coupling one of said control voltages to one of said anodes and the other control voltage to the other anode, a relay controlling said variable tuning means, a relay tube having a control grid, cathode and anode,

means coupling said relay to said relay tube anode, means for applying a voltage proportional to the algebraic sum of the voltages developed across said two resistances in series between the grid and cathode of said relay tube to control said variable tuning means in response to said two control voltages.

WILLIAM J. OBRIEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

